October 16, 2026 • 8 mins
Andrew Wiebe from Apple TV will be on the broadcast of Sunday's FC Cincinnati/Columbus battle. He joined us on ESPN1530.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
FC Cincinnati is still in ninth place in the Eastern conference.
And so on one hand, they lose last night, three,
two to new England, no harm, no foul. On the
other hand, if this team ends up being on the
outside looking in, I think that could be one of
those opportunities to look back on and go, man, if they,
if they just would have found a way to, to
get three points at home, that could have been the
(00:22):
turning point. Uh, they get a chance to bounce back. It's, uh,
the hell is real match against Columbus. It's Sunday at
five o'clock. Columbus is having a miserable season. FC Cincinnati,
obviously still holding out hopes that they can make some
noise in the post season. Five o'clock on Sunday, Andrew
Weeby from Apple TV on the sideline for the match
(00:44):
on a Sunday and kind enough to give us a
few minutes this afternoon. Andrew, good to have you. How
are you?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Wonderful to be here. It is a huge, huge match,
by the way, not just for MLS and the playoff race,
but man, the state of Ohio soccer is, it's hanging
in the balance for both these teams, at least November soccer.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
That is. Yeah. And like, I think a lot of
us would be a lot more excited about leaning into
the rivalry part of it. If FC Cincinnati's positioning was
a little bit more secure, which it typically is this
time of year.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah. Listen, I was thinking about this earlier as I
go through sort of the scheduling and try to do
some playoff scenarios in my head and plot it out. And, Honestly,
for both teams, their entire season basically will be decided
in the next 15 or 16 days. You know, for
the crew, they got an open cup final. They've got
a schedule that's pretty, well, pretty, pretty conducive to picking
up points if they're in form and they're way lower
(01:36):
than Cincinnati. They got to pick up those points. For Cincinnati, man,
it's do-or-die time. Because if you look at this schedule,
first of all, you're going to have a rivalry game
at home against Columbus, below you in the playoff line,
a competitor in the playoff line. You could put six
points between you and the crew if you can win
this game. And then you've got D.C.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Twice.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And then it's kind of like murderer's row of the
Eastern Conference all the way through to decision day. So
if Cincinnati want to feel any sense of comfort whatsoever...
This is a must win on Sunday. And to me,
you're right. It's kind of like the rivalry is being
overplayed by, by sort of the desperation. And so I
would call this a desperation Darby.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
It's about the rivalry for both teams. They dislike each other.
There's no doubt about it. We've seen in the playoffs,
we've seen in the regular season, we've seen it over
and over and over, but it's deeper than that, man.
It's survival right now. It is desperation. And both these
teams are feeling basically the same exact emotions with the
same requirement. And that requirement very clearly is three points.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, no question about it. Well said. I think from
an FC Cincinnati perspective, not having Myles Robinson, clearly not advantageous.
Pat Noonan has tried some lineup changes. He tried some.
in the second half last night. And, you know, Pat
Noonan is a terrific coach. But I feel like this
is who they are from a defensive perspective, from a
(02:53):
goal prevention perspective. And I felt like they took some
steps in the right direction against Atlanta on Saturday. And
then as I watched last night unfold, I thought Saturday
was a little bit of a mirage. At this stage
in the season, what can they do to be better
at preventing goals?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I'm... I think I'm probably just as baffled as you are, Mo,
and probably just as baffled as Pat is, because I
have talked to Pat Noonan about this three or four
times this year. And he is like, listen, we are
throwing everything against the wall from a personnel standpoint, from
a tactical standpoint. Like we are we are trying it.
(03:30):
If it's there, we've tried it. And it just. The
mix is, it's not right. There's something off with the mix.
There's something off with the personnel. There's something off with
the way that they're executing what this coaching staff is
asking of them. And, you know, the flip side of
that too, is I was like, man, 68 goals. I
think it is allowed for this Cincinnati team this year,
which is, I mean, it's crazy. It's, it's absurd, especially
(03:52):
given the standards they accept for themselves. Let me just
put this in perspective, by the way, Nashville at the
top of the conference. And yeah, that's the top of
the conference. They've allowed 22 goals in one more game. 26.
You're talking about a difference of 46 goals. That's that
is mind boggling. But at this point, I just think
that's who they are. Like, you know, maybe the form
(04:14):
will correct itself. Maybe a good performance will pop up.
But this has been a sort of. It's been a
critical issue for months and months and months now, and
it hasn't changed. The flip side of this equation is
that somehow allowing 68 goals, FC Cincinnati are a minus
eight goal differential, and that tells you they're scoring a
(04:36):
crap ton of goals as well. It seems like a
Vander is going to be back for this match. Kevin
Denke has found some good form in the last couple
of games. He's chasing that single season record in terms
of gold, all cops for the club. Like if Cincinnati
get into the playoffs and right now, listen, they should,
they should, it's going to be because they outscore teams.
It is not going to be because they start throwing
(04:58):
up zeros. I just don't see that happening.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Andrew Weeby from Apple TV is with us. FC Cincinnati
hosting Columbus 5 o'clock on Sunday. And I mentioned the
season not going so great for Columbus, yet they're in
the finals of the U.S. Open Cup. They've gotten three
points in three of the last four MLS matches. They
got three points last night beating Charlotte. So what is
keyed their turnaround?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I think it's a summer of change. And listen, Henrik
Rudstrom just, it was not a fit from the jump
as far as the managerial hire in the offseason. Like,
credit to the crew. You know, you have the demerit side,
which is, oops, you made a clear, gigantic error here.
This is not a fit. This guy's not going to work.
Not only does it not work short-term or long-term, it's
(05:43):
not working short-term. So credit to them. Listen, a lot
of clubs would stick with somebody. They'd be stubborn. They'd say, well,
we got a fee. The crew said, no, we're cutting bait.
They got rid of them. They went back to the
guy that, you know, outside of Yon Deme, they probably
should have hired, which is Laurel Courtois, who knew their
club inside and out and had MLSN coaching experience. They're
back to playing in a way that is more comfortable.
(06:05):
I spoke to Sean Zawadzki maybe two weeks ago, and
I was just like, man, when I talked to you
under Rootstrom, you just felt like, and the way you
talked about what the team was going through, that you
guys were just way outside your comfort zone. And he said, yeah,
that's true. We're back in a comfort zone. And not
only that, they've done what, you know, any ambitious team
in NLS is trying to do, which is in the summer,
go out and improve your roster. And Bryce Mendez and
(06:28):
Santi Rodriguez, you have, you know, two of the best
tens in the league. And oh, by the way, now
they get to play together and you get Mo Farsi
back and you have Zaruri on the other side, as
far as wingbacks. And that Wilford Nancy style crew that
we knew from a few years ago, where you have
the wingback bombing forward, you've got two teams operating in
the pocket and then a goal scorer up top. It's
starting to click again. So this attack is clicking. They're
(06:51):
not giving up as many bad goals as they have.
Although I would say that the Orlando game was a
blip in that sense. And all of a sudden they
got some momentum and We know as well as anybody does,
if you pay attention to this league, the most valuable
currency in MLS is momentum and specifically momentum as you
near decision day in the playoffs. And it's a long
shot still for the crew. There's no doubt about it.
(07:13):
They are down below that line. But listen, they pick
up three points. this weekend. Okay. All of a sudden
you're up 35 points. You get some help in terms
of other results. You'll be sitting one point behind Cincinnati
and you've got a game in hand. And, and, you know,
even with Cincinnati, you've got games against Toronto, Dallas, DC,
and Chicago to end. It's possible, but I think the
(07:36):
other side of this coin for Columbus is they've got
to pay close attention October 21st, because even if they
win against Cincy, there is a trophy on the table,
and when you had an opportunity to win a trophy
in a down season, you darn well better take that.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, no question about it. We're spoiled. Typically, mid-October, we're
talking about supporters' shield. We're talking about, like, all right,
are they going to make noise in the postseason? Now
they're scratching and clawing just to get in. Nonetheless... Should
be a day of desperation. The hell is real rivalry
is always awesome. Five o'clock on Sunday. Andrew, enjoy it, man.
Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, I appreciate it. We've got a lot more on
the pregame show if anybody wants to get the nitty
gritty of the match. Thanks, Will.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
You got it. Apple TV, Andrew Wiebe, five o'clock on
Sunday is when the game starts. FC Cincinnati hosting Columbus.
And of course, on Sunday, you can listen on ESPN. 1530.
I may five o'clock on Sunday. I may, may see
if the kiddo wants to go watch some soccer. We'll see.
FC Cincinnati is still in ninth place in the Eastern conference.
And so on one hand, they lose last night, three,
two to new England, no harm, no foul. On the
other hand, if this team ends up being on the
outside looking in, I think that could be one of
those opportunities to look back on and go, man, if they,
if they just would have found a way to, to
get three points at home, that could have been the
(00:22):
turning point. Uh, they get a chance to bounce back. It's, uh,
the hell is real match against Columbus. It's Sunday at
five o'clock. Columbus is having a miserable season. FC Cincinnati,
obviously still holding out hopes that they can make some
noise in the post season. Five o'clock on Sunday, Andrew
Weeby from Apple TV on the sideline for the match
(00:44):
on a Sunday and kind enough to give us a
few minutes this afternoon. Andrew, good to have you. How
are you?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Wonderful to be here. It is a huge, huge match,
by the way, not just for MLS and the playoff race,
but man, the state of Ohio soccer is, it's hanging
in the balance for both these teams, at least November soccer.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
That is. Yeah. And like, I think a lot of
us would be a lot more excited about leaning into
the rivalry part of it. If FC Cincinnati's positioning was
a little bit more secure, which it typically is this
time of year.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Yeah. Listen, I was thinking about this earlier as I
go through sort of the scheduling and try to do
some playoff scenarios in my head and plot it out. And, Honestly,
for both teams, their entire season basically will be decided
in the next 15 or 16 days. You know, for
the crew, they got an open cup final. They've got
a schedule that's pretty, well, pretty, pretty conducive to picking
up points if they're in form and they're way lower
(01:36):
than Cincinnati. They got to pick up those points. For Cincinnati, man,
it's do-or-die time. Because if you look at this schedule,
first of all, you're going to have a rivalry game
at home against Columbus, below you in the playoff line,
a competitor in the playoff line. You could put six
points between you and the crew if you can win
this game. And then you've got D.C.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Twice.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And then it's kind of like murderer's row of the
Eastern Conference all the way through to decision day. So
if Cincinnati want to feel any sense of comfort whatsoever...
This is a must win on Sunday. And to me,
you're right. It's kind of like the rivalry is being
overplayed by, by sort of the desperation. And so I
would call this a desperation Darby.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
It's about the rivalry for both teams. They dislike each other.
There's no doubt about it. We've seen in the playoffs,
we've seen in the regular season, we've seen it over
and over and over, but it's deeper than that, man.
It's survival right now. It is desperation. And both these
teams are feeling basically the same exact emotions with the
same requirement. And that requirement very clearly is three points.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, no question about it. Well said. I think from
an FC Cincinnati perspective, not having Myles Robinson, clearly not advantageous.
Pat Noonan has tried some lineup changes. He tried some.
in the second half last night. And, you know, Pat
Noonan is a terrific coach. But I feel like this
is who they are from a defensive perspective, from a
(02:53):
goal prevention perspective. And I felt like they took some
steps in the right direction against Atlanta on Saturday. And
then as I watched last night unfold, I thought Saturday
was a little bit of a mirage. At this stage
in the season, what can they do to be better
at preventing goals?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I'm... I think I'm probably just as baffled as you are, Mo,
and probably just as baffled as Pat is, because I
have talked to Pat Noonan about this three or four
times this year. And he is like, listen, we are
throwing everything against the wall from a personnel standpoint, from
a tactical standpoint. Like we are we are trying it.
(03:30):
If it's there, we've tried it. And it just. The
mix is, it's not right. There's something off with the mix.
There's something off with the personnel. There's something off with
the way that they're executing what this coaching staff is
asking of them. And, you know, the flip side of
that too, is I was like, man, 68 goals. I
think it is allowed for this Cincinnati team this year,
which is, I mean, it's crazy. It's, it's absurd, especially
(03:52):
given the standards they accept for themselves. Let me just
put this in perspective, by the way, Nashville at the
top of the conference. And yeah, that's the top of
the conference. They've allowed 22 goals in one more game. 26.
You're talking about a difference of 46 goals. That's that
is mind boggling. But at this point, I just think
that's who they are. Like, you know, maybe the form
(04:14):
will correct itself. Maybe a good performance will pop up.
But this has been a sort of. It's been a
critical issue for months and months and months now, and
it hasn't changed. The flip side of this equation is
that somehow allowing 68 goals, FC Cincinnati are a minus
eight goal differential, and that tells you they're scoring a
(04:36):
crap ton of goals as well. It seems like a
Vander is going to be back for this match. Kevin
Denke has found some good form in the last couple
of games. He's chasing that single season record in terms
of gold, all cops for the club. Like if Cincinnati
get into the playoffs and right now, listen, they should,
they should, it's going to be because they outscore teams.
It is not going to be because they start throwing
(04:58):
up zeros. I just don't see that happening.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Andrew Weeby from Apple TV is with us. FC Cincinnati
hosting Columbus 5 o'clock on Sunday. And I mentioned the
season not going so great for Columbus, yet they're in
the finals of the U.S. Open Cup. They've gotten three
points in three of the last four MLS matches. They
got three points last night beating Charlotte. So what is
keyed their turnaround?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I think it's a summer of change. And listen, Henrik
Rudstrom just, it was not a fit from the jump
as far as the managerial hire in the offseason. Like,
credit to the crew. You know, you have the demerit side,
which is, oops, you made a clear, gigantic error here.
This is not a fit. This guy's not going to work.
Not only does it not work short-term or long-term, it's
(05:43):
not working short-term. So credit to them. Listen, a lot
of clubs would stick with somebody. They'd be stubborn. They'd say, well,
we got a fee. The crew said, no, we're cutting bait.
They got rid of them. They went back to the
guy that, you know, outside of Yon Deme, they probably
should have hired, which is Laurel Courtois, who knew their
club inside and out and had MLSN coaching experience. They're
back to playing in a way that is more comfortable.
(06:05):
I spoke to Sean Zawadzki maybe two weeks ago, and
I was just like, man, when I talked to you
under Rootstrom, you just felt like, and the way you
talked about what the team was going through, that you
guys were just way outside your comfort zone. And he said, yeah,
that's true. We're back in a comfort zone. And not
only that, they've done what, you know, any ambitious team
in NLS is trying to do, which is in the summer,
go out and improve your roster. And Bryce Mendez and
(06:28):
Santi Rodriguez, you have, you know, two of the best
tens in the league. And oh, by the way, now
they get to play together and you get Mo Farsi
back and you have Zaruri on the other side, as
far as wingbacks. And that Wilford Nancy style crew that
we knew from a few years ago, where you have
the wingback bombing forward, you've got two teams operating in
the pocket and then a goal scorer up top. It's
starting to click again. So this attack is clicking. They're
(06:51):
not giving up as many bad goals as they have.
Although I would say that the Orlando game was a
blip in that sense. And all of a sudden they
got some momentum and We know as well as anybody does,
if you pay attention to this league, the most valuable
currency in MLS is momentum and specifically momentum as you
near decision day in the playoffs. And it's a long
shot still for the crew. There's no doubt about it.
(07:13):
They are down below that line. But listen, they pick
up three points. this weekend. Okay. All of a sudden
you're up 35 points. You get some help in terms
of other results. You'll be sitting one point behind Cincinnati
and you've got a game in hand. And, and, you know,
even with Cincinnati, you've got games against Toronto, Dallas, DC,
and Chicago to end. It's possible, but I think the
(07:36):
other side of this coin for Columbus is they've got
to pay close attention October 21st, because even if they
win against Cincy, there is a trophy on the table,
and when you had an opportunity to win a trophy
in a down season, you darn well better take that.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, no question about it. We're spoiled. Typically, mid-October, we're
talking about supporters' shield. We're talking about, like, all right,
are they going to make noise in the postseason? Now
they're scratching and clawing just to get in. Nonetheless... Should
be a day of desperation. The hell is real rivalry
is always awesome. Five o'clock on Sunday. Andrew, enjoy it, man.
Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, I appreciate it. We've got a lot more on
the pregame show if anybody wants to get the nitty
gritty of the match. Thanks, Will.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
You got it. Apple TV, Andrew Wiebe, five o'clock on
Sunday is when the game starts. FC Cincinnati hosting Columbus.
And of course, on Sunday, you can listen on ESPN. 1530.
I may five o'clock on Sunday. I may, may see
if the kiddo wants to go watch some soccer. We'll see.
Mo Egger News
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